1800–1899

The 19th century

Whose names filled the books of the 19th century — anyone at all, however long dead — counted as mentions per million words printed, so a period that simply published more does not inflate anyone.

Talked about then

Whose names appeared most in Russian books during the 19th century — whenever they lived.

  1. 1Patriarch Nikon of MoscowPatriarch Nikon of Moscow1605–1681 · 17th century · Religious Figures6.7
  2. 2Macarius, Metropolitan of MoscowMacarius, Metropolitan of Moscow1482–1563 · 16th century · Writers3.1
  3. 3Nikolai RezanovNikolai Rezanov1764–1807 · 18th century · Historical Figures1.3
  4. 4Boris GodunovBoris Godunov1552–1605 · 16th century · Politicians0.99
  5. 5Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich of RussiaGrand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich of Russia1859–1919 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.94
  6. 6Patriarch JoachimPatriarch Joachim1621–1690 · 17th century0.86
  7. 7Vasili IV of RussiaVasili IV of Russia1552–1612 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.86
  8. 8Nikolay KaramzinNikolay Karamzin1766–1826 · 19th century · Writers0.85
  9. 9Nicholas Alexandrovich, Tsesarevich of RussiaNicholas Alexandrovich, Tsesarevich of Russia1843–1865 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.83
  10. 10Anna of RussiaAnna of Russia1693–1740 · 18th century · Politicians0.82
  11. 11Nikolay SemyonovNikolay Semyonov1896–1986 · 20th century · Scientists0.75
  12. 12Ivan I of TverIvan I of Tver1357–1425 · 14th century · Historical Figures0.66
  13. 13Avraamy PalitsynAvraamy Palitsyn1550–1626 · 16th century · Writers0.64
  14. 14Ivan I Aleksandrovich, Prince of SmolenskIvan I Aleksandrovich, Prince of Smolenskdied 1359 · 14th century0.62
  15. 15Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich of RussiaGrand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich of Russia1779–1831 · 19th century · Politicians0.62
  16. 16Elizabeth of RussiaElizabeth of Russia1709–1761 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.58
  17. 17Alexandra VelyaminovaAlexandra Velyaminova1301–1364 · 14th century0.57
  18. 18Peter the GreatPeter the Great1672–1725 · 18th century · Politicians0.53
  19. 19Maximus the GreekMaximus the Greek1475–1556 · 16th century · Writers0.53
  20. 20Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of RussiaGrand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia1783–1801 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.43
  21. 21Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of RussiaGrand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of Russia1864–1931 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.42
  22. 22Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of RussiaGrand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of Russia1832–1909 · 19th century · Politicians0.42
  23. 23Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia1895–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.39
  24. 24Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of RussiaGrand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia1827–1892 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.39
  25. 25Grigory OrlovGrigory Orlov1734–1783 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.38
  26. 26Alexander I of RussiaAlexander I of Russia1777–1825 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.36
  27. 27Leo TolstoyLeo Tolstoy1828–1910 · 19th century · Writers0.35
  28. 28Alexander BestuzhevAlexander Bestuzhev1797–1837 · 19th century · Writers0.34
  29. 29Ivan the TerribleIvan the Terrible1530–1584 · 16th century · Politicians0.33
  30. 30Pyotr PaninPyotr Panin1721–1789 · 18th century0.33
  31. 31Ippolit BogdanovichIppolit Bogdanovich1743–1803 · 18th century · Writers0.33
  32. 32Peter III of RussiaPeter III of Russia1728–1762 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0.31
  33. 33Stefan YavorskyStefan Yavorsky1658–1722 · 17th century · Academics0.30
  34. 34Grigory PotemkinGrigory Potemkin1739–1791 · 18th century · Politicians0.30
  35. 35Boris of TverBoris of Tver1400–1461 · 15th century0.29
  36. 36Ivan MazepaIvan Mazepa1639–1709 · 17th century · Politicians0.29
  37. 37Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia1899–1918 · 20th century · Historical Figures0.29
  38. 38Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia1850–1908 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.29
  39. 39Vasily Vasilyevich GolitsynVasily Vasilyevich Golitsyn1643–1714 · 17th century · Politicians0.28
  40. 40Paul I of RussiaPaul I of Russia1754–1801 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.28
  41. 41Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia1860–1919 · 19th century · Politicians0.28
  42. 42Ivan Ivanovich ShuvalovIvan Ivanovich Shuvalov1727–1797 · 18th century · Writers0.28
  43. 43Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of RussiaAlexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia1690–1718 · 18th century · Politicians0.27
  44. 44Nicholas I of RussiaNicholas I of Russia1796–1855 · 19th century · Models0.26
  45. 45Alexander PushkinAlexander Pushkin1799–1837 · 19th century · Writers0.26
  46. 46Dimitry of RostovDimitry of Rostov1651–1709 · 17th century · Writers0.26
  47. 47Alexander GriboyedovAlexander Griboyedov1795–1829 · 19th century · Politicians0.25
  48. 48Alexander HerzenAlexander Herzen1812–1870 · 19th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers0.24
  49. 49Vissarion BelinskyVissarion Belinsky1811–1848 · 19th century · Academics0.23
  50. 50Konstantin AksakovKonstantin Aksakov1817–1860 · 19th century · Writers0.23
  51. 51Nikita PaninNikita Panin1718–1783 · 18th century · Politicians0.22
  52. 52Symeon of PolotskSymeon of Polotsk1629–1680 · 17th century · Writers0.21
  53. 53Aleksei Musin-PushkinAleksei Musin-Pushkin1744–1817 · 18th century · Writers0.21
  54. 54Alexis of RussiaAlexis of Russia1629–1676 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.21
  55. 55Xenia ShestovaXenia Shestova1560–1631 · 16th century0.20
  56. 56Mikhail LermontovMikhail Lermontov1814–1841 · 19th century · Writers0.19
  57. 57Olga Nikolaevna of RussiaOlga Nikolaevna of Russia1822–1892 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.19
  58. 58Pavel FedotovPavel Fedotov1815–1852 · 19th century · Artists0.19
  59. 59Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich of RussiaGrand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich of Russia1858–1915 · 19th century · Writers0.19
  60. 60Dmitry ShuiskyDmitry Shuisky1560–1612 · 16th century0.19
  61. 61Nikolay Alexandrovich LvovNikolay Alexandrovich Lvov1753–1803 · 18th century · Academics0.18
  62. 62Alexey VenetsianovAlexey Venetsianov1780–1847 · 19th century · Artists0.18
  63. 63Catherine Pavlovna of RussiaCatherine Pavlovna of Russia1788–1819 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.18
  64. 64Fyodor AlekseyevFyodor Alekseyev1755–1824 · 18th century · Artists0.18
  65. 65Grand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna of Russia1825–1844 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.17
  66. 66Konstantin BatyushkovKonstantin Batyushkov1787–1855 · 19th century · Writers0.15
  67. 67Mykhailo MaksymovychMykhailo Maksymovych1804–1873 · 19th century · Writers0.15
  68. 68Nicholas RepninNicholas Repnin1734–1801 · 18th century · Writers0.15
  69. 69Kirill RazumovskyKirill Razumovsky1728–1803 · 18th century · Politicians0.14
  70. 70Natalya Alexeevna of RussiaNatalya Alexeevna of Russia1673–1716 · 18th century · Writers0.14
  71. 71Grand Duchess Natalya Alexeyevna of RussiaGrand Duchess Natalya Alexeyevna of Russia1714–1728 · 18th century0.14
  72. 72Nikolai LeskovNikolai Leskov1831–1895 · 19th century · Writers0.13
  73. 73Aleksei Fedorovich AdashevAleksei Fedorovich Adashev1510–1561 · 16th century · Politicians0.13
  74. 74Alexander ShishkovAlexander Shishkov1754–1841 · 18th century · Writers0.13
  75. 75Joseph VolotskyJoseph Volotsky1440–1515 · 15th century · Writers0.12
  76. 76Alexander MenshikovAlexander Menshikov1673–1729 · 18th century · Politicians0.12
  77. 77Nikolay DobrolyubovNikolay Dobrolyubov1836–1861 · 19th century · Academics0.11
  78. 78Ivan the YoungIvan the Young1458–1490 · 15th century · Historical Figures0.11
  79. 79Konstantin of UglichKonstantin of Uglich1389–1434 · 15th century0.11
  80. 80Dmitry PozharskyDmitry Pozharsky1577–1642 · 17th century · Politicians0.11
  81. 81Gleb UspenskyGleb Uspensky1843–1902 · 19th century · Writers0.10
  82. 82Pyotr Andreyevich TolstoyPyotr Andreyevich Tolstoy1645–1729 · 17th century · Writers0.10
  83. 83Alexander SuvorovAlexander Suvorov1730–1800 · 18th century0.10
  84. 84Grand Duke George Alexandrovich of RussiaGrand Duke George Alexandrovich of Russia1871–1899 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.10
  85. 85Alexander IvanovAlexander Ivanov1806–1858 · 19th century · Artists0.10
  86. 86Ivan KrylovIvan Krylov1769–1844 · 19th century · Writers0.09
  87. 87Ivan DmitrievIvan Dmitriev1760–1837 · 18th century · Writers0.09
  88. 88Alexander Sergeyevich MenshikovAlexander Sergeyevich Menshikov1787–1869 · 19th century · Politicians0.09
  89. 89Mikhail of TverMikhail of Tver1271–1318 · 14th century · Politicians0.08
  90. 90Peter Ivanovich ShuvalovPeter Ivanovich Shuvalov1711–1762 · 18th century · Politicians0.08
  91. 91Maxim GorkyMaxim Gorky1868–1936 · 20th century · Writers0.08
  92. 92Vladimir OdoevskyVladimir Odoevsky1803–1869 · 19th century · Writers0.08
  93. 93Oleg I of ChernigovOleg I of Chernigov1052–1115 · 11th century · Historical Figures0.08
  94. 94Mikhail VorontsovMikhail Vorontsov1782–1856 · 19th century · Politicians0.08
  95. 95Faddey BulgarinFaddey Bulgarin1789–1859 · 19th century · Writers0.08
  96. 96Tikhon of ZadonskTikhon of Zadonsk1724–1783 · 18th century · Religious Figures0.08
  97. 97Konstantin of RostovKonstantin of Rostov1185–1218 · 13th century · Politicians0.08
  98. 98Peter II of RussiaPeter II of Russia1715–1730 · 18th century · Politicians0.08
  99. 99Kirill II of KyivKirill II of Kyiv1250–1280 · 13th century0.08
  100. 100Alexander II of RussiaAlexander II of Russia1818–1881 · 19th century · Historical Figures0.08

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 19th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Karl MarxKarl Marx1818–1883 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics17 decades
  2. 2Friedrich NietzscheFriedrich Nietzsche1844–1900 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics15 decades
  3. 3Arthur SchopenhauerArthur Schopenhauer1788–1860 · Academics20 decades
  4. 4Georg Wilhelm Friedrich HegelGeorg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel1770–1831 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics21 decades
  5. 5Carl Friedrich GaussCarl Friedrich Gauss1777–1855 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics11 decades
  6. 6Ada LovelaceAda Lovelace1815–1852 · Academics3 decades
  7. 7Max WeberMax Weber1864–1920 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics15 decades
  8. 8Friedrich EngelsFriedrich Engels1820–1895 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics17 decades
  9. 9Søren KierkegaardSøren Kierkegaard1813–1855 · Academics3 decades
  10. 10Henri BergsonHenri Bergson1859–1941 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics12 decades
  11. 11Émile DurkheimÉmile Durkheim1858–1917 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics11 decades
  12. 12Thérèse of LisieuxThérèse of Lisieux1873–1897 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics10 decades
  13. 13David HilbertDavid Hilbert1862–1943 · Academics14 decades
  14. 14John Stuart MillJohn Stuart Mill1806–1873 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics18 decades
  15. 15Henri PoincaréHenri Poincaré1854–1912 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics13 decades
  16. 16Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson1803–1882 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics19 decades
  17. 17Andrew CarnegieAndrew Carnegie1835–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics14 decades
  18. 18Sofia KovalevskayaSofia Kovalevskaya1850–1891 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Academics14 decades
  19. 19Auguste ComteAuguste Comte1798–1857 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics22 decades
  20. 20Jean-François ChampollionJean-François Champollion1790–1832 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics6 decades
  21. 21Nikolai LobachevskyNikolai Lobachevsky1792–1856 · Academics9 decades
  22. 22Ludwig FeuerbachLudwig Feuerbach1804–1872 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics19 decades
  23. 23Évariste GaloisÉvariste Galois1811–1832 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics6 decades
  24. 24John DeweyJohn Dewey1859–1952 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics14 decades
  25. 25Theodor MommsenTheodor Mommsen1817–1903 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics18 decades
  26. 26Edmund HusserlEdmund Husserl1859–1938 · Academics12 decades
  27. 27Charles BabbageCharles Babbage1791–1871 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics20 decades
  28. 28Wilhelm von HumboldtWilhelm von Humboldt1767–1835 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics22 decades
  29. 29Vladimir VernadskyVladimir Vernadsky1863–1945 · Academics8 decades
  30. 30William JamesWilliam James1842–1910 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics18 decades
  31. 31Joseph FourierJoseph Fourier1768–1830 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics11 decades
  32. 32Ferdinand de SaussureFerdinand de Saussure1857–1913 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics12 decades
  33. 33Thomas Robert MalthusThomas Robert Malthus1766–1834 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics8 decades
  34. 34Georg CantorGeorg Cantor1845–1918 · Academics14 decades
  35. 35Bernhard RiemannBernhard Riemann1826–1866 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics12 decades
  36. 36Vissarion BelinskyVissarion Belinsky1811–1848 · Academics15 decades
  37. 37Ernest RenanErnest Renan1823–1892 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics17 decades
  38. 38Swami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda1863–1902 · 🇮🇳 India · Academics13 decades
  39. 39Georgi PlekhanovGeorgi Plekhanov1856–1918 · Academics11 decades
  40. 40Max StirnerMax Stirner1806–1856 · Academics18 decades
  41. 41Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph SchellingFriedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling1775–1854 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics9 decades
  42. 42Herbert SpencerHerbert Spencer1820–1903 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics17 decades
  43. 43Jacob GrimmJacob Grimm1785–1863 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics21 decades
  44. 44David RicardoDavid Ricardo1772–1823 · Academics21 decades
  45. 45Heinrich SchliemannHeinrich Schliemann1822–1890 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics15 decades
  46. 46Vladimir DalVladimir Dal1801–1872 · Academics10 decades
  47. 47Gustave Le BonGustave Le Bon1841–1931 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics15 decades
  48. 48Gottlob FregeGottlob Frege1848–1925 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics9 decades
  49. 49Sophie GermainSophie Germain1776–1831 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics18 decades
  50. 50Vladimir SolovyovVladimir Solovyov1853–1900 · Academics14 decades
  51. 51Vilfredo ParetoVilfredo Pareto1848–1923 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics13 decades
  52. 52Charles FourierCharles Fourier1772–1837 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics19 decades
  53. 53Alfred North WhiteheadAlfred North Whitehead1861–1947 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics10 decades
  54. 54RamakrishnaRamakrishna1836–1886 · 🇮🇳 India · Academics14 decades
  55. 55George BooleGeorge Boole1855–1864 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics9 decades
  56. 56Brigham YoungBrigham Young1801–1877 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics19 decades
  57. 57Wilhelm WundtWilhelm Wundt1832–1920 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics15 decades
  58. 58Georg SimmelGeorg Simmel1858–1918 · Academics13 decades
  59. 59George SantayanaGeorge Santayana1863–1952 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics9 decades
  60. 60Charles Sanders PeirceCharles Sanders Peirce1839–1914 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics9 decades
  61. 61François AragoFrançois Arago1786–1853 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics18 decades
  62. 62Augustin-Louis CauchyAugustin-Louis Cauchy1789–1857 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0 decades
  63. 63John HerschelJohn Herschel1792–1871 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics0 decades
  64. 64Niels Henrik AbelNiels Henrik Abel1802–1829 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Academics1 decades
  65. 65Francis GaltonFrancis Galton1822–1911 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics17 decades
  66. 66Jane AddamsJane Addams1860–1935 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics14 decades
  67. 67Friedrich SchleiermacherFriedrich Schleiermacher1768–1834 · Academics21 decades
  68. 68Karl WeierstrassKarl Weierstrass1815–1897 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics8 decades
  69. 69Frédéric BastiatFrédéric Bastiat1801–1850 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics18 decades
  70. 70Hermann MinkowskiHermann Minkowski1864–1909 · Academics9 decades
  71. 71Allan KardecAllan Kardec1804–1869 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics16 decades
  72. 72Peter Gustav Lejeune DirichletPeter Gustav Lejeune Dirichlet1805–1859 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics0 decades
  73. 73Louis Auguste BlanquiLouis Auguste Blanqui1805–1881 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics19 decades
  74. 74William Rowan HamiltonWilliam Rowan Hamilton1805–1865 · Academics16 decades
  75. 75Franz BoasFranz Boas1858–1942 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics14 decades
  76. 76Carl Gustav Jacob JacobiCarl Gustav Jacob Jacobi1804–1851 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics1 decades
  77. 77Felix KleinFelix Klein1849–1925 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics15 decades
  78. 78Max MüllerMax Müller1823–1900 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics5 decades
  79. 79Andrey MarkovAndrey Markov1856–1922 · Academics6 decades
  80. 80Georges SorelGeorges Sorel1847–1922 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics12 decades
  81. 81Thorstein VeblenThorstein Veblen1857–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics11 decades
  82. 82Pafnuty ChebyshevPafnuty Chebyshev1821–1894 · Academics4 decades
  83. 83Eliezer Ben-YehudaEliezer Ben-Yehuda1858–1922 · Academicsnot measured
  84. 84Mirza Ghulam AhmadMirza Ghulam Ahmad1835–1908 · 🇮🇳 India · Academics4 decades
  85. 85Houston Stewart ChamberlainHouston Stewart Chamberlain1855–1927 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics13 decades
  86. 86Alfred MarshallAlfred Marshall1842–1924 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics16 decades
  87. 87Jamāl al-Dīn al-AfghānīJamāl al-Dīn al-Afghānī1838–1897 · Academicsnot measured
  88. 88Henri FayolHenri Fayol1841–1925 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics11 decades
  89. 89James George FrazerJames George Frazer1854–1941 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics8 decades
  90. 90Muhammad AbduhMuhammad Abduh1849–1905 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Academics5 decades
  91. 91Henry GeorgeHenry George1839–1897 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics19 decades
  92. 92August Heinrich Hoffmann von FallerslebenAugust Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben1798–1874 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics6 decades
  93. 93Oliver Wendell HolmesOliver Wendell Holmes1841–1935 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics18 decades
  94. 94Karl PearsonKarl Pearson1857–1936 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics14 decades
  95. 95`Abdu'l-Bahá`Abdu'l-Bahá1844–1921 · Academics0 decades
  96. 96Kitasato ShibasaburōKitasato Shibasaburō1853–1931 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academics0 decades
  97. 97Carl MengerCarl Menger1840–1921 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Academics14 decades
  98. 98Christian DopplerChristian Doppler1803–1853 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Academics8 decades
  99. 99Emil KraepelinEmil Kraepelin1856–1926 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics14 decades
  100. 100Bruno BauerBruno Bauer1809–1882 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics19 decades

How this is measured

  • Placing people in time. Each person belongs to the century in which they were most active — around age 35, and never after their death.
  • Who ranks highest. Within a century, people are ranked where two independent signals agree: how many of the world’s Wikipedia language editions cover them, and how many people actually read about them. Article counts alone can be lifted by a person’s own circle; readers cannot.
  • Fame in print. The curves count how often a name appears in Google Books from 1800 to 2019, as a share of all the words printed each year, in the person’s own language wherever that corpus exists. Those decades are over, so each measurement is made once and kept.
  • What is left out. A lifetime is measured only from 1820, when there is enough print to judge; the five years after a death are skipped as obituaries; and a name shared with someone equally notable is credited to neither.